D-handle for tools



May 2, 1933. T. L. CROOK D-HANDLE FOR TOOLS Filed May 25, 1932 PatentedMay 2, 1933 UNITED STATES moms L. CROOK, ornIcKsvI LE, oHIo ID-HANDLErontroons AppIication filed May 25,

sion of a simple, eflicient and improved handle of this character, whichis reinforced at weak points by a novel application and distribution ofmetal parts to not only provide a strong and durable handle, but also tosimplify and cheapen the cost of construction and assembly of the handleparts and to enable small pieces of scrap metal to be used forreinforcing purposes.

The invention is fully set forth in the following specification and oneembodiment thereof illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in whichFigure 1 is an elevation of a handle embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is asection thereof on the line 2-2 in Fig. 1, with a portion broken away.Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary section of a handle taken on line 33of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a similar section taken from one side edge thereofas along a line 44 in Fig. 2, and Fig. 5 is an end elevation of thehandle grip or roll member.

Referring to the drawing, 1 designates the wooden shaft or stem carryingthe shovel, or other implement, at one end and having its other or upperend portion longitudinally split or bifurcated to form the two spacedarms 2 and 3, and firmly connected thereto by a cross-pin 5 passingthrough an axial aperture 6 in the grip-bar and aligned apertures 7 inthe shaft arms.

The grip-bar 4 has each end face cut away at 8 toprovide a straightshoulder 9 thereacross slightly below the aperture 6, and the projectingportion 10 of the end face thus formed is provided with a marginal edgerecess 11 around its curved portion.

The inner flat side of each arm 2 and 3 is cut away or recessed at itsupper end, as at 12, to adapt it to receive the projecting end portion10 of the grip-bar and to provide a step or shoulder 13 at its loweredge for the shoulder 9 of the bar end.

The upper end of each shaft arm, 2, 3, and the connection of thegrip-bar 4 and shaft 7 1932. Serial NO. 613,374.

therewith, is reinforced by inner and'outer metallic strips 14 and 15,respectively, which are adapted to be and preferably are formed fromflat scrap sheet steel.

The inner strip 14 is substantially flat to fit against and conform tothe flat inner face shaft-arm, and extends from the upper end edge ofthe arm to a distance of two or three inches below the grip-bar 4, andisprovided at its upper end with an outwardly stepped or ofiset portion16, which fits in and c0nforms to the steppedor recess-ed portion 12,18, of the arm. It is thus apparent that the strip 14 forms a metallicfacing for the portion of the shaft arm against which the end of thegrip-bar 4 abuts and at the same time provides a firm seat for theshoulder 9 of the grip-bar.

The outer strip 15 is of hood or rounded concaved form at its upper endto fit over and receive the upper end ofthe associated shaft arm and toseat at its edge in the edge recess 11 of the respective'end of thegripbar 4, the side edges of the hood extending down at each sidesubstantially to the shoulder 9 of the grip-bar. The leg portion of thestrip 15 is curved in cross-section to conform to the curved outer sideof the shaft arm and gradually reduces in width to its free end andasbest shown in Fig. 1. The edges of the inner strip 14 substantiallyfrom the stepped portion 16 downwardly, and the edges of the outer strip15 substantially from the lower edges'of the hood portion thereof, areturned slightly inward to adapt them to be imbedded in the respectivesurfaces of the shaft arms and thus prevent sharp edges of the stripsfrom being exposed where they might cause injury to the hands of aperson handling the implement.

The pin 5 passes through the strips 14 and 15 of both arms and is headedat the outer sides of the strips, thereby serving to retain all of theparts in strong and rigid assembled relation. The lower ends of thestrips 14 and 15 of each pair are secured together and firmly held tothe shaft arm by a rivet 17 extended through the arm.

It is found in practice that the manner shown and described forassembling and mounting the handle parts, provides not only a strong andrigid construction, but also an inexpensive one. It is also foundimportant in practice to provide the metal spacing mem- 5 barconstituted by the strips 14 between the ends of the grip handle and therespective shaft arms, particularly in combination with the steppedfeature, as it adds materially to the strength and wearing quality ofthe handle and tends to maintain the grip-bar tight with respect to theshaft arms more efficiently than where this spacing feature is notpresent.

I wish it understood that my invention is 15 not limited to anyspecificconstruction, arrangement or form of the parts, as it is capableof numerous modifications and changes without departing from the spiritof the claim.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by United States Letters Patent, is:

A D-handle comprising a wooden shaft having its upper end bifurcated toform diverging arms, said arms being substantially half around incross-section with their flat faces disposed inward, a grip-bar disposedbetween the outer ends of the arms, the ends of the grip-bar and therespective aligned inner face portions of the arms having complementalstepped surfaces forming transverse shouldered engagement one with theother at a point below the grip-bar axis, inner and outer metallicreinforcing strips for the outer end portions of the arms, each innerstrip having its outer end disposed between the opposed portions of thegripbar and respective arms and conforming to the stepped form thereof,and each outer strip having its outer end hooded over the end of therespective arm and in coacting engagement with the respective top andside end edge portion of the grip-bar, a pin extending coaxi-allythrough the grip-bar and through the aligned portions of the arms andreinforcing strips to rigidly retain the several parts in assembledrelation, and rivet means securing the lower end of the strips to therespective arm.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name to thisspecification.

THOMAS L. CROOK.

